220. Don’t Fear the Future… You Know It

Isaiah 41:5 NKJV The coastlands saw it and feared, The ends of the earth were afraid; They drew near and came.

As we see many of the nations of the world aligning themselves together against Israel, don’t be afraid. Instead recognize that they are doing so because they are afraid. They know that something BIG is about to happen and are afraid because they don’t know what it is.

It is quite possible this Scripture had a double prophetic meaning. It certainly would have been a comfort to the Jews in bondage to the Babylonians, who had devastated their lands, to know that the kingdom that had taken their land would be destroyed. When King Cyrus of the Persians after joining with the Medes had begun expanding their empire it certainly struck the nations of the world and the Babylonians with fear as they saw their empire being absorbed by the new emerging powerhouse of the Mede/Persian Empire.

Yet reading it today, I can’t help but to think about the return of our Lord. The entire world seems to know something major is about to happen. Geologists are working with scientists frantically trying to develop better earthquake detection equipment as the frequency and intensity of earthquakes continue to rise. Russia is working to expand their territory and alliances in the east with China and Iran. The chaos in Syria, Libya, Iraq, Pakistan, etc… something BIG is about to happen and the nations of the world are aligning themselves together against Israel. It’s such a tiny country, yet the entire Middle East, most of Europe and more and more of Asia are all talking about Israel.

They may not know it with their understanding, but spiritually they sense something is up and are afraid. Isaiah 41:2 refers to a righteous man stirring and rousing up from the East, who will rule over every nation and kingdom. It is His soon return that is causing the nations of the world to panic, but the Kingdom of God can stand fearless.

We should be comforted knowing the return of the Lord is at hand. Matt 24:27 says it will be occur in the East but will be seen throughout the world nearly instantly. Zechariah 14:4 tells us at the Lord’s Second Coming, He will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east, and the mountain will be split in two. All the nations incensed against God’s People will be ashamed (Isaiah 41:11) as His coming.

As we see these events unfolding, we should not be ignorant, fearful, nor idle bystanders. The nations of the world and people of the world are terrified and they don’t even really know why. You hold the answer to their peace and comfort. You know what is taking place and can stand fearless, knowing the Lord will soon call for His Church to meet Him in the air in preparation for His Glorious return. You have the message of His Love for all men and His desire that none should perish but would instead inherit eternal life (2 Peter 3:9). Stand fearless. The world is terrified because it knows something major is about to happen, but doesn’t know what it is. You know what it is. Don’t get caught up in their fear. Instead tell them the reason for your peace and share your fearlessness with them.